The Surfaris: Wipeout
Bob Dylan: Jolene
Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell: Papa's on the housetop
Lucinda Williams: Can't let go
Lead Belly: Big fat woman
Jools Holland & his RBO with Ruby Turner: The informer
Melody Gardot: Baby I'm a fool
Sharon Shannon & Mundy: Galway girl
Joe Bonamassa: From the valley
Mamma Mia! MST recording: Dancing queen
The Streets: Dry your eyes
Linda Rondstadt & James Ingram: Somewhere out there
Imelda May: Smotherin' meDinah Washington: Big long slidin' thing
Bruce Springsteen: The last carnival
Seasick Steve: St Louis Slim
La Vie en Rose OST recording: La vie en rose (accordion)
Judy Garland: Stompin' at the Savoy
Featured album: Etta James - Mystery Lady, songs of Billie Holiday
Don't explain
The very thought of you
How deep is the ocean
Show theme: Mitch's 2008/2009 Albums of the Year
Ben Waters - Hurricane
Male Artist Album of the Year: Hurricane
Catherine Russell - Sentimental Streak
Female Artist Album of the Year: So little time; I'm lazy, that's all
Dr John & the Lower 911 - City that Care Forgot
Tribute Album of the Year: Time for a change
BB King - One Kind Favour
Album of the Year: Sitting on top of the world; Blues before sunrise
Pleased as I was to see Duffy, Estelle and Adele receive Grammy honours, I was chuffed to bits that BB King, now 83 years of age, has been recognised for his brilliant album, 'One Kind Favour'.
Possibly his best work of the past 10 or more years, this album compares favourably with the all-time best Traditional Blues Albums.
Incredible work justly rewarded.
As if that wasn't enough, the Blind Boys of Alabama won their fifth Traditional Gospel Grammy for the fantastic 'Down in New Orleans'. What an amazing legacy for gospel music.
But it was Robert Plant who with Alison Krauss (now winner of 26 Grammy awards!) who picked up 5 awards and stole this year's show.
The blissful harmonies and delicate production by T Bone Burnett rightly won 'Raising Sand' Album of the Year, plus Record of the Year for Just Read the Letter, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Rich Woman, Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album & Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, for Killing the Blues. Some haul!
And Alison Krauss is now just one Grammy away from Quincy Jones's living record of 27 Grammy wins.
Finally, because it was released earlier in the States which brought it into the eligibility period, my current album of the month, the fabulous Dr John & the Lower 911, with their album 'City that Care Forgot', won the gong for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Happy? If there had been a chandelier handy I would still be swinging from it!* * * * * * * * * * *
After the success of ValeFest's pilot music festival, Winterval (25-31 January) here in the Vale of Belvoir (pronounced 'Beaver'), I've received some quite humbling comments and testimonials from children, bands and others involved in the project.
Taking on the task without payment, if anyone ever asks whether all the effort to bring the community together through music, promote local musicians and help the local economy was worthwhile, I have only to look at those messages.
Some are or will be featured the ValeFest website shortly. Meanwhile, here's an example from a Vale of Belvoir venue manager;
"After talking to Mitch at length about the idea of ValeFest I decided it was a great idea and I'm glad we got involved.
"We thought at The Manners Arms that we would be best suited to an acoustic session held in our bar and lounge area, partly due to the night we chose and also the question would we fill it?
"Well, what can I say? - we had the busiest Thursday in months! We were full from 7.30 til close and a great night was had by all.
"This is definitely something we'd do again and help to support the ValeFest vision."
Featured album: Etta James - Mystery Lady, songs of Billie Holiday
